Improvement in lettering-tablets



H. W. KIBBE. Lettering-Tablet.

Patented July 22,1879.

WITNESSES INVENTOR aha/ MM M BY ATTORNEYS.

N PErERs. PHOTO-LITHOGHAPHFR, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETE.

HERBERT W. KIBBE, OF UTIOA, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LETTERING-TABLETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,736, dated July '32, 1879; application filed April 25,1879.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, HERBERT W. KIBBE, 'of Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Lettering-Tablet, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a plan of the tablet. Fig. 2 represents a letter drawn by use of the tablet.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This tablet is designed for the use of pennien, engravers, and all persons who have let tering to do, and also as a self-instructor in lettering. Every letter in the alphabet can be formed complete with it, and with no more skill than is required in the use of a common ruler. Whether the letters made by its use be large or small, if the directions are followed their proportions will be correct.

The tablet consists of a flat rectangular plate, A, of thin metal, card-board, wood, or other suitable material, perforated with circles B B and lettered segments of circles O O, of various dimensions, and crossed by straight lines that intersect the circles and segments at various points, and a scale of inches and a number of small holes are shown along the upper edge.

To make the standard Roman letters by its use, one draws two parallel lines on the subject to be lettered, the distance between which should be the same as the diameter of one of the given circles on the tablet, and then places the tablet upon the subject to be lettered, so that the line running across the lower part of the slants on the tabletmarked Y A.M V V, 850., and at right angles with the ends, will be directly over the lower ruled line or base.

To get the proper slant for the left side of A, draw a line by the straight edge of slant marked A. To get the proper slant for the right side, slide the tablet to the left until the straight edge of slant marked A-that is, to the right of the two largest circlesstrikes the intersection of the line already made with the head-line, and draw thereby another line from head to base line.

For the slant of other letters, use the slants marked with the letter to be made.

All right-hand slants are formed at the left of the large circles in the tablet, and all left slants to the right.

To make perpendicular lines, the ends of the tablet are used.

hen it it is desired to make an enlargement at the ends of body-strokes, a section of one of the small circles is used.

The row of small holes at the top of the tablet are for striking curves.

Drive a pin or tack through, the tablet anywhere in the first inch of the scale, so that it will just hold in the paper on which the curve is to be made; then place the end of a pencil in one of the holes and move as desired.

The proper slant for italic letters is obtained by using for base the lines that run diagonally across the tablet.

The method of outlining the curved letters is set forth in the accompanying diagram, which may be called an analytical alphabet. By these it will be seen that the circles or segments of the circles cut in the tablet serve as guides for the pencil in outlining all the curves. This analytical alphabet is not a part of the device, but simply a specimen of the work, iiidicating the manner in which the tablet is to be used.

These tablets may be made with circles and segments of circles of any required dimensions, so that by their use letters of any size may be drawn. With one of the dimensions given in the drawings, letters of one-quarter of an inch to an inch and a quarter in height can be made.

Correct lettering can be much more rapidly done with this tablet than in the ordinary way, as every line of a letter may be made perfect and in its proper place at the first attempt.

Any one who uses the tablet for a few days will have the forms and proportions of the letters indelibly impressed 011 the memory, and be able to do correct lettering without its aid. The tablet is not confined to straight-line lettering, but can be used on curved lines.

WVith the aid of the strip of board which accompanies each tablet, ietters on curved lines, all pointing toward a common center, can be rapidly and correctly made. By pivoting the strip of board at the center of the circle and resting the lower edge of the tablet on the upper end of the said strip, so as to be at right angles thereto, and by moving the said strip on its pivot, care being taken to keep the tablet at right angles to the said strip while it is being moved on its pivot, the letters can readily be formed on a curved line.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A lettering-tablet consisting of a rectangular plate, of card-board, metal, Wood, or the like, pierced with circular holes and with slots having curved and straight edges in various positions, whose outlines, or the various oom- H. W. KIBBE.

Witnesses MARCELLO M. GARDNER, A. B. DoBsoN. 

